Ultrasensitive Detection of p24 in Plasma Samples from People with Primary and Chronic HIV-1 Infection
Caroline Passaes, Héloïse Delagrèverie, Véronique Avettand-Fènoël, Annie David, Valérie Monceaux, Asma Essat, Michaela Müller‐Trutwin, Darragh Duffy, Nathalie De Castro, Linda Wittkop, Christine Rouzioux, Jean‐Michel Molina, Laurence Meyer, Constance Delaugerre, Asier Sáez‐Cirión
Abstract
The introduction of combined antiretroviral treatment has transformed HIV-1 infection into a manageable condition. In this context, there is a need for additional biomarkers to monitor HIV-1 residual disease or the outcome of new interventions, such as in the case of HIV cure strategies. The p24 antigen has a long half-life outside viral particles, and it is, therefore, a very promising marker to monitor episodes of viral replication or transient activation of the viral reservoir. However, the formation of immune complexes with anti-p24 antibodies makes its quantification difficult beyond acute HIV-1 infection. We show here that, upon immune complex dissociation, new technologies allow the ultrasensitive p24 quantification in plasma samples throughout HIV-1 infection at levels close to those of viral RNA and DNA determinations. Our results further indicate that ultrasensitive p24 quantification may have added value when used in combination with other classic clinical biomarkers.